Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on June 01-02/2024
Text & Video: The Greatest Fraud: The Syrian entered on June 1976 to protect the Christians
Hezbollah launches series of attacks after Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon
Hezbollah escalates attacks amid negotiations for hostage, ceasefire deal with Hamas - analysis/Seth J. Frantzman/Jerusalem/June 01/2024
Hezbollah fighters shoot down an Israeli drone in southern Lebanon
Southern Lebanon: Casualties in Majdel Selm After Israeli Drone Strike
Israel attacks motorbike in Majdal Selm, Hezbollah responds with drones
4 killed as Israel strikes two areas deep in south Lebanon
Lebanon complains to UN over Israeli strike that wounded schoolchildren
A Particularly Violent Saturday in the South: An Israeli Drone Shot Down
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai: The People Chose the Wrong MPs
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai: THE PEOPLE CHOSE THE WRONG MPS
MP Kassem Hashem: Le Drian's tour yields no clear results
Islamic Sharia Council Calls for Implementing the Taif Agreement
Zahle: Bicentennial of a “Eucharistic City”
The Lebanese Economy on the Tracks of the Silk Road (1/3)

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on June 01-02/2024
PM Benjamin Netanyahu: Gaza war won't end until Hamas destroyed
Israel’s Smotrich: press Gaza offensive until Hamas destroyed, hostages returned
Mediators urge Israel, Hamas to finalize truce outlined by Biden
‘Biden is our only hope’: Thousands of Israelis urge hostage deal
'Time for this war to end': Biden pushes Israeli plan for Gaza truce
Congressional leaders invite Netanyahu to deliver an address at the Capitol
Iran condemns EU sanctions over drone program
Congressional leaders invite Netanyahu to deliver an address at the Capitol
US and allies clash with China and Russia over North Korea's launches and threats to use nukes
Gaza ceasefire plan should be given ‘positive’ consideration, Taoiseach says
Families of hostages in Gaza back cease-fire deal set out by Biden. Israel says conditions remain
Israel maintains a shadowy hospital in the desert for Gaza detainees - AP explains
U.S.-sanctioned ex-officer among Iranian candidates to replace Raisi
US defense secretary says war with China neither imminent nor unavoidable, stressing need for talks
Kuwait’s Emir makes Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah crown prince

Titles For The Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on June 01-02/2024
Question: “What is the difference between religion and spirituality?”/GotQuestions.org/June 01/2024
US and UN's Dangerous Flirtation: Cuddling with Iran/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute./June 01/2024
Who can declare victory if a ceasefire would leave Hamas in power?/Seth J. Frantzman/Jerusalem/June 01/2024
The end of ANC dominance in South Africa/Andrew Hammond/Arab News/June 01, 2024
How a warming planet threatens the Nile Delta/Hafed Al-Ghwell/Arab News/June 01, 2024
World is a shameful spectator to injustice/Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama/Arab News/June 01, 2024

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on June 01-02/2024
Text & Video: The Greatest Fraud: The Syrian entered on June 1976 to protect the Christians
Bachir Gemayel Academy/1st of June, 1976
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/130307/130307/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cINodt_TbF4&t=7s
To better understand the Syrian intervention in 1976, we need to keep in mind the old Syrian dream, known as “Greater Syria”, the obsession of the Syrian presidency. It was taught in Syrian schools that Lebanon belongs to the Syrian Republic, even after Lebanon’s independence. The Syrian involvement was not only limited to military interventions but also included political pressure, individual threats, and political assassinations.
The declared reasons behind the intervention were stated by Hafeez el Assad himself in his famous speech about the necessity of protecting the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the National Movement, from the Kataeb militants who were winning on all fronts. It is worth noting that the Syrians were already present in Lebanon under الصاعقة and جيش التحرير الفلسطيني .
Additionally, thousands of weapons and ammunitions were delivered from Syria to the PLO and National Movement.
Furthermore, fearing the independent policies from Syria that the PLO and National Movement were taking and the developing Christian-Israeli relationship, Syria needed to take swift control over Lebanon. Thus, controlling both the Christians and the PLO, to be able to use them as a negotiating card with US and Israel at the right time.
The 1976 Syrian intrusion was well orchestrated. A secret deal was made between Hafeez Al-Assad and the Israeli Deputy Prime minister Yigal Allon, via a letter sent by Allon to Al-Assad, through the United States-Secretary of State Joseph Sisco (equivalent to Minister of Foreign Affairs). The deal stated that the Syrian Army cannot occupy the heartland of Christians and should not use any military air force, only artillery. This was well expressed by the US Envoy Dean Brown in a meeting with the Lebanese Front, who said: “Syrians of 1976 are like the Marines of 1958”.
For the record, following this intrusion, Bachir Gemayel called for a general strike. He knew the true intentions behind Syria’s invasion, since it was led by a ruthless dictator willing to drain Lebanon’s resources and take control over its territory. In other words, Bachir clearly understood the old Syrian dream of occupying Lebanon. His fears were also met by Kamal Jumblatt who was also aware of this incoming threat. As a result, he requested a secret meeting with Bachir on the following day. During this meeting, Jumblatt said: “The Syrians are here to occupy Lebanon and kill anyone who opposes them”.

Hezbollah launches series of attacks after Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/June 01, 2024
BEIRUT: Hezbollah launched a series of attacks on Israeli military positions on Saturday following what local media reported as an escalation in Israeli strikes on Friday night. Israeli warplanes and drones launched a series of raids on villages and towns in southern Lebanon, to which Hezbollah responded by firing dozens of rockets. A building in Adloun, Sidon District, was destroyed during one raid, resulting in the death of a woman named Amal Abboud and injuries to four others. In Ain Qana, another strike led to the death of Hezbollah member Ahmed Taboush. Hezbollah said it had shot down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon hours later. Israel confirmed a military drone was hit by a surface-to-air missile, causing it to crash in a village in southern Lebanon. This is the fourth time that Hezbollah has downed an Israeli drone in southern Lebanon, but the Israeli Air Force said it would continue its operations in Lebanese airspace despite the losses. The clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army appear to have shifted from the ground to the skies. Residents in border areas reported experiencing “one of the fiercest nights of attacks since clashes began on October 8 last year” on Friday, with Israel conducting airstrikes on multiple towns and villages.
The escalation coincided with a speech from Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, in which he stated that southern Lebanon is “a pressing, influential, and powerful front in pressurizing the Israelis, as confirmed by its officials.”
Israeli media said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed Israeli forces to expand the level of strikes in Lebanon. Hezbollah confirmed in a statement on Saturday that they had shot down an Israeli drone. “After monitoring and closely following the Israeli drones that carry out assassinations and attack safe homes, we targeted a Hermes 900 drone with appropriate weapons over Lebanese territory and shot it down,” Hezbollah said. The drone reportedly fell in the Deir Kifa area.
Israeli drones continued to target vehicles around the border area. A drone bombed a car in the town of Markaba, and another targeted a motorcycle in the town of Majdal Selem in the Marjayoun district. Lebanese emergency services transported two casualties from the site of the strike. One drone struck close to the mosque in the town of Barin in the western sector, while another fired three missiles at a car in Harouf town, causing casualties. Hezbollah said that it had launched a successful missile strike on Israel’s Al-Baghdadi military site. Additionally, Hezbollah said it had carried out “an aerial attack using assault drones on the recently established position of the armored group north of the Yiftah Barracks, aiming at the enemy’s officers and soldiers’ locations, resulting in confirmed casualties among them.”Sirens sounded in the Yiftah and Hermon regions in Upper Galilee, and Israel’s Channel 12 said that “a rocket landed in the vicinity of the area in Upper Galilee, but no casualties were reported.” The Israeli army confirmed that “a major fire broke out inside the headquarters of the 769th Eastern Brigade (Camp Jibur) in the Kiryat Shmona border settlement after a heavy missile fired by Hezbollah from Lebanon fell.”
Hezbollah confirmed that it had targeted “the headquarters of the 769th Brigade in the Kiryat Shmona barracks with heavy Burkan missiles.”The missiles struck the headquarters directly, resulting in a fire and some damage, Hezbollah said. The Kiryat Shmona municipality acknowledged that Hezbollah’s bombing of the settlement “caused severe damage to infrastructure, property, and vehicles.”The municipality called on residents of Kiryat Shmona to remain near protected areas. Israeli Army Radio reported that “two buildings, one of them military, were hit by missile strikes from Lebanon on Kiryat Shmona.”

Hezbollah escalates attacks amid negotiations for hostage, ceasefire deal with Hamas - analysis
Seth J. Frantzman/Jerusalem/June 01/2024
The overall picture in the north is of an aggressive Hezbollah that is not deterred by a potential deal between Israel and Hamas, and is willing to expand the conflict. Hezbollah escalated attacks over the weekend of May 31-June 1. The pro-Iranian Al-Mayadeen media detailed an extensive list of Hezbollah’s claims to have attacked numerous sites in northern Israel. The escalation comes as the US and France are pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza. Hezbollah says it is supporting the people of Gaza. The Iranian-backed group claimed to have targeted the “Yiftach Barracks” as well as a “sensitive” military site and the “Biranit barracks.” The group said it targeted the headquarters of the 769th IDF Brigade using Burkan heavy missiles. The group also said it shot down a Hermes 900 drone. Al-Mayadeen claimed this was the fourth Hermes drone downed in May. The Hezbollah escalation comes as Hamas has vowed a war of “attrition” in Gaza. It appears that Hezbollah is seeking to increase its attacks at the same time as Hamas is also increasing its attacks on the IDF in Gaza. This is apparently part of a full-court press to show Israel that Iran’s “axis of resistance” is succeeding after almost eight months of war. The Hezbollah attacks began on May 31 at 11:44 a.m. with sirens in Metula. Later, Hezbollah also launched drone attacks targeting areas near Metula. Sirens also sounded in Acre in the afternoon. “Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in the area of the city of Acre, one UAV that crossed into Israeli territory from Lebanon was successfully intercepted by the IDF Aerial Defense Array. Alerts were activated in the area due to the danger of falling fragments from the interceptor,” the IDF said. Later Hezbollah targeted the area of Kalil in the northern Galilee and the area of Al-Kosh. Hezbollah began its attacks on June 1 in the morning with drone attacks. The attacks continued throughout the day into the evening, when sirens sounded in Acre. One of the attacks was deemed to be a false alarm. Increased tensions in the north. Hezbollah is seeking to increase its attacks in a dangerous escalation that could lead to more tensions in the north. The downing of the drone and the Hezbollah attacks that appear to be reaching deeper into Israeli territory are concerning. In addition pro-Iranian militias in Iraq continue to increase their threats with drone attacks. In addition, on Thursday the IDF intercepted a cruise missile that approached the Golan. Hezbollah and other Iranian-linked groups are shifting their attacks to attempt to strike at Israel using more drones and other capabilities that they have developed. The use of a cruise missile, for instance, is a serious escalation. This shows how Iran is exporting its technology to various groups in the region. Recent reports from Iran also noted that the country is seeking to transfer more ballistic missile technology to the Houthis in Yemen. The Houthis have also stepped up attacks since May 30, using numerous drones and ballistic missiles. It is clear that Iran is seeking to ring Israel with proxy groups and carry out numerous attacks on a variety of fronts. Iran calls this “unifying the arenas.” The escalation over the weekend is an example of this attempt. Hezbollah’s claims of targeting IDF bases also shows how Hezbollah is trying to showcase its intelligence abilities. For instance it has recently said that it is seeking to target Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The overall picture in the north is of an aggressive Hezbollah that is not deterred and is willing to expand the conflict.

Hezbollah fighters shoot down an Israeli drone in southern Lebanon
BEIRUT (AP)/June 01, 2024
The militant Hezbollah group said it shot down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon on Saturday, after hours Israeli drone strikes killed at least one person and wounded others. Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters struck the Hermes 900 Kochav drone, saying such aircraft have been targeting militants and civilian homes. The exchange of fire along the Lebanon-Israel border has been intensifying over the past weeks with Israel’s military push Gaza's southern city of Rafah. The Israeli military said a surface-to-air missile was fired toward a drone operating in Lebanese airspace, adding that it was hit and fell in Lebanese territory. “The incident is under review,” the military said. The Hermes 900 Kochav is a medium altitude and long endurance drone that can carry four anti-tank guided missiles. Earlier Saturday, an Israeli drone strike on a motorcycle near the southern Lebanese village of Khirbet Selm wounded two people, state-run National News Agency said. The agency reported another drone strike Saturday afternoon in a village near the southern city of Nabatiyeh. An Israeli airstrike on a house in the coastal village of Adloun killed one woman and wounded several others on Friday evening, the agency reported. Hezbollah began attacking Israeli military posts along the Lebanon-Israel border a day after the Israel-Hamas war broke out on Oct. 7. Since then, tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides of the border. Over the past seven months, more than 400 people have been killed in Lebanon most of them fighters but they also include more than 70 civilians and non-combatants. In Israel, 15 soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed since October.

Southern Lebanon: Casualties in Majdel Selm After Israeli Drone Strike
This Is Beirut/June 01/2024
An Israeli drone targeted a motorcycle on Saturday in the town of Majdel Selm in the Marjayoun district, causing one death, according to local newspaper Annahar. This comes after a heated night in the southern villages as Israeli aircraft launched a series of simultaneous raids, which were met by Hezbollah firing dozens of rockets towards Israeli positions. The Israeli army announced that in response to Hezbollah’s rocket attacks towards northern Israel on Friday, air force warplanes struck significant Hezbollah assets in Ain Qana and in the villages of Humeila and Adloun. The latest escalation coincided with Israeli media reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the army to expand the scope of strikes on Lebanon. Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah confirmed that the southern front is continuing its operations and is part of the battle “shaping the fate of Palestine, Lebanon and the region.”
On Saturday morning, sirens blared in the Yiftah and Hermon areas of the Upper Galilee on the border with Lebanon. A rocket fell without causing injuries or damage in the vicinity of Yiftah and Hermon in the Upper Galilee, while intercepting rockets exploded over Mays al-Jabal, according to Channel 12 in Israel. Hezbollah’s military media announced that the group targeted the Baghdadi site on Saturday morning.

Israel attacks motorbike in Majdal Selm, Hezbollah responds with drones
Naharne/June 01/2024
An Israeli drone on Saturday targeted a motorcycle on a road in the Marjeyoun district town of Majdal Selm, causing two casualties, the National News Agency said. An Israeli tank meanwhile targeted the border town of Kfarkila with a shell as Israeli interceptor missiles exploded over Mays al-Jabal. Hezbollah meanwhile announced that it responded to the Majdal Selm attack by launching suicide drones at Israeli forces north of the Yiftah barracks, causing “certain casualties.”Earlier on Saturday, Hezbollah said it attacked the al-Baghdadi Israeli post with missiles. Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, has traded regular cross-border fire with Israel since the Palestinian militant group's October 7 attack on southern Israel triggered the war in the Gaza Strip. Nearly 450 people have been killed in Lebanon in more than seven months of cross-border violence, mostly militants but also more than 80 civilians, according to an AFP tally. Israel says 14 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed on its side of the border.

4 killed as Israel strikes two areas deep in south Lebanon
Agence France Presse/June 01/2024
Israeli strikes on south Lebanon have killed four people including a paramedic and a woman, Hezbollah and affiliated rescuers said, with Hezbollah adding it had fired dozens of rockets in retaliation. Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, has traded regular cross-border fire with Israel since the Palestinian militant group's October 7 attack on southern Israel triggered the war in the Gaza Strip. The operations room of the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee told AFP that "an Israeli drone strike targeted an ambulance... One rescuer was martyred and another wounded" in the border town of Naqoura. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) also said "an enemy drone targeted a Health Committee ambulance in the town of Naqoura," reporting casualties. The operations room later told AFP that an Israeli strike on the town of Adloun, deep in south Lebanon near Sidon, had killed a woman and wounded four other people. The NNA said an "enemy drone launched a strike targeting a house" in Adloun, around 30 kilometers from the border, "completely destroying it." The Israeli military said in a statement that "fighter jets struck a military structure" in the Naqoura area where a militant cell's activity was identified.
A militant in the Yaroun area, elsewhere in south Lebanon, "was also struck," the statement said, adding that a drone from Lebanon was intercepted. Hezbollah said it fired "dozens of Katyusha rockets" at northern Israel "in response to the attack" in Naqoura, and also claimed other attacks on Friday, including with drones and heavy-duty missiles. The group announced in separate statements that two of its fighters had been killed, without specifying where.A source close to Hezbollah had said one person was killed in bombardment in Ain Qana, deep in south Lebanon, without elaborating.
Complaint to U.N.
Imran Riza, the U.N.'s humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon, said on X that he was "deeply disturbed to hear that an ambulance was targeted" in south Lebanon. "20 health workers killed since 8 October," he added. Nearly 450 people have been killed in Lebanon in more than seven months of cross-border violence, mostly militants but also more than 80 civilians, according to an AFP tally. Ten rescuers from the Islamic Health Committee are among those killed. Israel says 14 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed on its side of the border. Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah meanwhile in a televised address warned that Hezbollah fighters were recently capable of penetrating into northern Israel but had not done so.

Lebanon complains to UN over Israeli strike that wounded schoolchildren
Agence France Presse/June 01/2024
Lebanon has submitted a complaint to the U.N. Security Council over an Israeli drone strike this month on a car that also damaged a nearby minibus wounding several schoolchildren, the Foreign Ministry said. A source close to Hezbollah said one of the group's fighters was killed in that strike. The attack was "a violation of international humanitarian law," the Foreign Ministry said, urging the Security Council to "condemn Israel's direct, deliberate and repeated targeting of civilians."

A Particularly Violent Saturday in the South: An Israeli Drone Shot Down
This Is Beirut/June 01/2024
Saturday marked a particularly violent day in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah announced that it had shot down an Israeli drone with a surface-to-air missile in the Deir Kifa region. The drone is of the Hermes 900 type, one of the army’s largest and most expensive. It was the fourth Israeli drone to be shot down by Hezbollah since October 8.
A little later, the Lebanese army announced that it had detonated the rocket on the drone. Later in the afternoon, the Israelis targeted a van carrying the debris from the downed drone over Deir Kifa. The Israeli air force also raided a house in the Siddiqine region, wounding several people, some of whom are in critical condition. Preliminary reports put the number of wounded at seven. The Israeli air force also bombed a house in Kantara, causing injuries. In addition, phosphorus shells hit Odaisseh, Khiam and Kfar Kila, where a house was damaged by a Merkava shell. Strikes targeted Khiam and Markaba, hitting a vehicle but causing no casualties. Bombardments also targeted the Hamila area, between Hounin and Roumin, which had already been the target of bombardments yesterday. The Yarine mosque in western Bekaa was also targeted by Israeli bombardments. On the Israeli side, fires broke out in Bayad Blida and Assi, opposite Mays el-Jabal. According to Israeli media reports, a Burkan ballistic missile was fired at Kiryat Shmona, causing injuries. Kiryat Shmona’s municipality reported that two projectiles hit the town, causing damage to infrastructure.
Hezbollah also announced that it had hit an Israeli army barracks in the settlement of Shomera.The pro-Iranian group also claimed responsibility for an attack on spy equipment at the Marj site.Israeli TV Channel 12 reported that since the start of the war, 70% of the facilities in the Manara settlement in the Upper Galilee have been destroyed by bombardments from Lebanon.

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai: The People Chose the Wrong MPs
This Is Beirut/June 01/2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/130297/130297/
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai issued a stark warning on Saturday about the ongoing presidential vacuum, criticizing recent electoral choices that have not led to meaningful change. Rai highlighted widespread boycotts and a paralyzed political landscape, stating that “Lebanon has become a class-based country, and when the people rose to improve their situation and when they elected their representative, they chose the wrong name.”Speaking at the “Renewal for the Nation” conference, Rai lamented the current state of national dialogue, stating, “No one dares to initiate an honest national dialogue, and no one sees the point in responding to a dialogue that doesn’t address the fundamental issues that have accumulated and turned into ticking time bombs.” Rai urged the nation’s leaders to rise above partisan politics and take immediate action. “Isn’t it time for us to be true statesmen and immediately elect a president who restores confidence and puts us on the right track to stability?” he asked. The Patriarch painted a grim picture of Lebanon’s current state, describing it as a “scene of chaos and score-settling,” where destructive possibilities loom large. He noted the emergence of “social cantons” among the Lebanese, groups that are increasingly discussing ways to politicize themselves, further fragmenting the nation. Moreover, Rai expressed concern about the societal mindset that seems to prefer enduring crises over seeking solutions. “The Lebanese society has become disobedient to solutions and familiar with problems, as if crises are easier than solutions. The major problem is that the foundational elements that form a nation are what divide the Lebanese,” he emphasized. In a related address, Youssef al-Absi, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, echoed Rai’s sentiments regarding the deterioration of social cohesion. “Religion was never a barrier between people or a cause for disagreement or separation, but it seems those days have gone with time,” Absi said. He warned against the current trajectory, as national unity is giving way to fragmented entities. “After establishing a nation, we are slipping into creating cantons, emirates or arenas. Sectarianism as a system is one thing, and sectarian thinking is another,” Absi added, calling for a renewed commitment to national unity. Both leaders’ statements reflect a deep concern about Lebanon’s future, urging immediate and genuine efforts to restore trust, unity and effective governance in the country. The forum entitled “Lebanon: From the Scene of Conflict to a Nation in the Making,” is organized by the Renewal for the Nation group. This is a group of entities from the Lebanese Greek Catholic community. Their goal is to propose policies, solutions and ideas for the country’s development. “This is the historically moderating role of Greek Catholics,” said Charles Arbid, President of the Lebanese Economic, Social and Environmental Council (ESEC), on the program Ici Eco on This Is Beirut. According to Arbid, the group to which he belongs is a republican group, centrist in the European sense of the term. Its goal is to unify and decentralize the country. “We need to think about a new electoral law because the existing one does not represent minorities,” he said. His movement wants to encourage young people (especially Greek Catholics) to participate in reflection and national decisions and to feel they are part of this country. During the forum, guests will be asked to share their opinions on how to move from a scene of conflict to a nation. They will also address the issue of making Lebanon more stable and attractive. Arbid clarified that the guests come from different sides, and the forum’s idea is to listen to their responses to these issues. A report will be published at the end of the forum.

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai: THE PEOPLE CHOSE THE WRONG MPS
NNA/June 01/2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/130297/130297/
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai issued a stark warning on Saturday about the ongoing presidential vacuum, criticizing recent electoral choices that have not led to meaningful change.
Rai highlighted widespread boycotts and a paralyzed political landscape, stating that “Lebanon has become a class-based country, and when the people rose to improve their situation and when they elected their representative, they chose the wrong name.”
Speaking at the “Renewal for the Nation” conference, Rai lamented the current state of national dialogue, stating, “No one dares to initiate an honest national dialogue, and no one sees the point in responding to a dialogue that doesn’t address the fundamental issues that have accumulated and turned into ticking time bombs.”Rai urged the nation’s leaders to rise above partisan politics and take immediate action. “Isn’t it time for us to be true statesmen and immediately elect a president who restores confidence and puts us on the right track to stability?” he asked.
The Patriarch painted a grim picture of Lebanon’s current state, describing it as a “scene of chaos and score-settling,” where destructive possibilities loom large. He noted the emergence of “social cantons” among the Lebanese, groups that are increasingly discussing ways to politicize themselves, further fragmenting the nation.Moreover, Rai expressed concern about the societal mindset that seems to prefer enduring crises over seeking solutions. “The Lebanese society has become disobedient to solutions and familiar with problems, as if crises are easier than solutions. The major problem is that the foundational elements that form a nation are what divide the Lebanese,” he emphasized. In a related address, Youssef al-Absi, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, echoed Rai’s sentiments regarding the deterioration of social cohesion. “Religion was never a barrier between people or a cause for disagreement or separation, but it seems those days have gone with time,” Absi said.He warned against the current trajectory, as national unity is giving way to fragmented entities. “After establishing a nation, we are slipping into creating cantons, emirates or arenas. Sectarianism as a system is one thing, and sectarian thinking is another,” Absi added, calling for a renewed commitment to national unity. Both leaders’ statements reflect a deep concern about Lebanon’s future, urging immediate and genuine efforts to restore trust, unity and effective governance in the country. The forum entitled “Lebanon: From the Scene of Conflict to a Nation in the Making,” is organized by the Renewal for the Nation group. This is a group of entities from the Lebanese Greek Catholic community. Their goal is to propose policies, solutions and ideas for the country’s development. “This is the historically moderating role of Greek Catholics,” said Charles Arbid, President of the Lebanese Economic, Social and Environmental Council (ESEC), on the program Ici Eco on This Is Beirut. According to Arbid, the group to which he belongs is a republican group, centrist in the European sense of the term. Its goal is to unify and decentralize the country. “We need to think about a new electoral law because the existing one does not represent minorities,” he said. His movement wants to encourage young people (especially Greek Catholics) to participate in reflection and national decisions and to feel they are part of this country. During the forum, guests will be asked to share their opinions on how to move from a scene of conflict to a nation. They will also address the issue of making Lebanon more stable and attractive. Arbid clarified that the guests come from different sides, and the forum’s idea is to listen to their responses to these issues.

MP Kassem Hashem: Le Drian's tour yields no clear results
LBCI/June 01/2024
MP Kassem Hashem, a member of the Development and Liberation Bloc, affirmed that Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri has called for consecutive electoral sessions from the beginning, while some want an open session "forever."
He pointed out that Parliament is the only remaining legitimate institution and must remain a vital and effective entity. On LBCI's "Nharkom Said" TV show, Hashem noted that some have not accepted dialogue so far and that the statement from the Quintet Committee aligns with what Berri has been saying. He emphasized that those who wish to engage in consultations should do so without any preconditions, with each party presenting its approach to the issues. "The visit by French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian did not yield a clear result, and the ball is now in the other party's court," Hashem said. "The current situation requires a different approach."He added, "We are capable of electing a president at any moment we agree, and the current situation in the South necessitates having a president."Hashem pointed out that the presidential issue is not related to events in Gaza or the south and that the situation in south Lebanon should be a motivator and an accelerating factor for reaching an agreement on the presidential elections. Furthermore, he confirmed that resistance efforts are legitimized in ministerial statements. On the Syrian refugee crisis, Hashem stated that the matter should be discussed with the Syrian side. He added that there is an intention to keep the displaced in Lebanon and that most recent waves are economically driven. Hashem also mentioned that Europeans are not helping Lebanon resolve it.

Islamic Sharia Council Calls for Implementing the Taif Agreement
This Is Beirut/June 01/2024
The Islamic Sharia Supreme Council, the high Sunni authority in Lebanon, called for fostering national unity and implementing the Taif Agreement. “Our only option is national unity and the implementation of the Taif Agreement, which serves as a robust safeguard for Lebanon, with its Arab identity and commitment to the constitution,” reaffirmed the Sharia Council in a statement delivered after a meeting on Saturday at Dar al-Fatwa, presided over by Mufti Abdul Latif Daryan. The council emphasized the importance of creating an environment of dialogue, encounter, and understanding among all political factions to elect a president. It urged parliamentarians to fulfill their national and constitutional duty by swiftly electing a unifying president to prevent the persistence of a presidential vacuum, which currently dominates the scene and is held hostage by delays and the ongoing regional situation. The council noted that Lebanon is experiencing a constitutional crisis, with proposals such as federalism, division, and changes to the political system emerging.

Zahle: Bicentennial of a “Eucharistic City”
Fady Noun/This Is Beirut/June 01/2024
For the Christians of Lebanon and for Lebanon as a whole, the presidential vacancy is “worse than the plague.” It jeopardizes the future of the Lebanese “political entity,” stated the Greek-Catholic Archbishop of Zahle, Ibrahim Ibrahim, during the Feast of Corpus Christi, which the city has faithfully commemorated since 1825, nearly two centuries ago. That year, a procession of the Blessed Sacrament miraculously saved Zahle from a plague epidemic. “With the fervor of the early days, we pray that God heals our beloved homeland from an illness even more malignant than the plague, an illness that gnaws at its entity and its unique formula,” declared archbishop Ibrahim Ibrahim, speaking alongside the Greek-Catholic Patriarch, Youssef Absi. A surprise guest at this commemoration, Patriarch Absi delivered a speech purely religious in nature. By coincidence, the cry of the Archbishop of Zahle echoed — unintentionally — the warning issued the previous day by Jean-Yves Le Drian, the personal envoy of the French President Emmanuel Macron to Lebanon, after another unsuccessful mediation: If a president is not elected as soon as possible, it could mean “the end of political Lebanon,” declared the former French Foreign Minister, noting that Lebanon has been without a president since the end of the term of former President Michel Aoun in October 2022. Addressing the faithful gathered in front of the Serail building, Archbishop Ibrahim emphasized that the absence of a president jeopardizes not just a function but “the entire Christian presence in Lebanon” and “the very destiny of the homeland.”
In this regard, he added, “We must consider it a national duty to provide unwavering support to the Lebanese army and security forces as an irreplaceable instrument of internal security and stability.” The Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, is one of the three serious candidates for the presidency.
The Archbishop of Zahle also defended the principle of the inviolability of bank deposits, called for an equitable distribution of high state positions among all communities, and requested that the Feast of Corpus Christi “be officially declared a public holiday in Zahle.”The capital of the Bekaa, a city with 52 churches, considers itself a “eucharistic city” since, two centuries ago, in 1825, following a vision, its archbishop Aghnatios Ajoury managed to organize a procession of the Blessed Sacrament in its streets, saving it from a plague epidemic ravaging the region. “This miracle is a historical event that has marked the general consciousness of the Zahle residents,” explains Georges Okaïs, the Greek-Catholic deputy of the Lebanese Forces in the area, present at the procession. “The festival is part of our spiritual heritage. Without it, Zahle would lose part of its identity.”
Founded in the 16th century, the city has always had its own personality. With its 120,000 inhabitants, it is the largest purely Christian agglomeration in the Arab world. Located on the edge of the Bekaa plain, it gained importance in the 18th century by becoming a railway hub and a center for agricultural and merchandise transactions between Beirut, Damascus, and the hinterland.
The Greek-Catholic bishop of Zahle traditionally plays a unifying role. Having the ear of the great families, he has a say in the city’s affairs while being a church leader.
The Feast of Corpus Christi in Zahle is marked by separate processions from all the city’s churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, a unique feature in Lebanon. Starting at dawn, these distinct processions converge towards the Serail before spreading out with their monstrances to all the city’s neighborhoods. This brings great joy to the faithful of all ages who gather individually or in organized groups (brotherhoods, schools, scout troops, Caritas volunteers, neighborhood bands, etc.), as well as the residents who await the processions’ passage on their balconies or next to their altars.
The day begins at dawn in a joyous atmosphere and concludes with a final mass and, for those fasting, the first coffee. Broadcast live on Facebook by Zahle TV and closely followed by the large Greek-Catholic diasporas in Brazil and Canada, this day unites people and brings them together. “To belong is to follow in the footsteps of those who came before us, to create our own history, to forge our identity,” recalls Nevine Hajj-Chahine, a historian married to a Zahle resident. “Somewhere in this stream of secularization, we realize that the world is once again ordered to a higher order, and I find that wonderful,” she rejoices. The city reopened after the ceremony concluded around noon.

The Lebanese Economy on the Tracks of the Silk Road (1/3)
Malo Pinatel/This Is Beirut/June 01/2024
“China is ready to cooperate with Arab countries to build a higher-level China-Arab community with a shared future.” With these words, Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted China’s wish to increase its economic presence in the Middle East during the 33rd Arab League Summit held in Bahrain on Friday, May 17. Lebanon is not exempt from this growing interest. Lately, trade between the two countries has increased, partly due to Lebanon’s economic crisis, which has led to a growing demand for low-cost products. However, there is a significant trade imbalance: while China accounts for 14% of Lebanon’s imports, making it the country’s largest source of imports, Beirut exports very few goods to China.
The New Silk Road
Nevertheless, Beijing continues to invest in Lebanon, particularly due to its strategic crossroads location. Lebanon could become a vital link in China’s ambitious global project: The New Silk Road, also known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Behind this term lies the creation of major land and maritime trade routes, with the goal of enhancing exchanges across the entire Eurasian continent. To achieve this, China is heavily investing in logistics and communications infrastructure, such as roads, railways, ports and telecommunications.
Beyond the political aim of expanding the influence of the People’s Republic, the initiative also has clear economic objectives, mainly to secure Beijing’s supply routes. The BRI also aims to boost exports and find new markets for Chinese companies, especially in the field of public works, as reported by the website Géoconfluences in a 2018 article. The BRI follows several corridors. Two are land routes: one runs through Central Asia, Iran and Turkey; the other goes north through Russia to Eastern Europe. The maritime route crosses the Indian Ocean before splitting into two paths. One follows the East African coast to the southern tip of the continent, while the other goes up the Red Sea to reach the Mediterranean. Currently, Lebanon is far from being a central link within the BRI, a fact that disappoints Waref Kumayha, President of the Lebanese-Chinese association Dialogue Roads. In an interview with This Is Beirut, he recalls that in 2017, “A cooperation agreement was signed between Lebanon and China, titled ‘the New Silk Road,’ covering logistics, energy infrastructure, sports and health.”
An Abundance of Donations
Kumayha voices hope that “this agreement will be activated so that Lebanon can benefit from this initiative on a mutually beneficial and win-win basis.” “We haven’t had the chance yet to benefit from such an opportunity,” he adds. “We encourage Lebanon to grab this opportunity, as it could significantly contribute to resolving a good part of the country’s economic crisis.” However, if Chinese-Lebanese cooperation is slow to materialize, Beijing is not standing idly by and is making moves in Lebanon through providing aid and donations. “Following Beirut’s port explosion on August 4, 2020, the Chinese government provided substantial help to Lebanon,” Kumayha recalls, highlighting its role in the restoration and reconstruction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Another concrete indicator is the donation of solar panels to Ogero, of a value amounting to 8 million dollars. Imad Kreidieh, the General Manager of the public telecommunications and internet provider, states, “We were contacted by the Chinese Embassy about a month or two ago, informing us that the Chinese government had agreed to grant this donation to Ogero.” He further explains, “We expect that the entire equipment will be delivered to Lebanon around next August or September.”The stated goal is clearly to reduce dependence on fuel, which is a significant financial drain for the Lebanese government. Yet, Chinese generosity also aligns with an economic purpose. By showcasing its expertise to a prominent public enterprise—as a side note, China is the leader in this market—it also hopes to attract new clients in the private sector. The reconstruction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can also be seen from this perspective, with Chinese companies among the leaders in the construction market.
Lebanese Ports
But China’s real interest in Lebanon lies elsewhere, specifically in the logistical infrastructure of its two main ports, Beirut and Tripoli. Beijing was one of the contenders for the tender to rebuild the port after the August 4, 2020 explosion. Its bid was supported by Hezbollah, given the close ties between Beijing and Tehran. However, this bid never materialized into concrete action, mainly due to Lebanon’s unprecedented economic challenges and regional instability. A similar sentiment is echoed in Tripoli. “On several occasions, we sensed the willingness of China and Chinese companies to invest in Lebanon and Tripoli,” says Toufic Dabboussi, President of the Chamber of Commerce of this major northern city. “But the local and regional situation has prevented the realization of this project for now,” he notes. It is worth mentioning that these infrastructures were renovated by the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), a state-owned enterprise, between 2011 and 2015. The import of a second crane by the Emirati company Gulftainer to the port of Tripoli in December 2023 also points to a renewed interest. “The cranes are from China, but it is a private project,” explains Dabboussi. “The company Gulftainer took over the management of the quay at the port of Tripoli and imported the cranes from China, the first in 2015 and a second more recently,” he continues. He clarifies, “This is not a donation; this is an investment in the most traditional sense of the term.”
Chinese Ambitions in the Levant
While these are not donations per se, the shipment of cranes to the port of Tripoli serves as a testament to China’s growing economic influence and its willingness to invest in infrastructure with significant potential returns. Tripoli’s port could serve as a vital link for the reconstruction efforts in neighboring Syria, which has been ravaged by war since 2011. This strategic positioning could alleviate pressure on Syrian ports like Latakia and Tartus. This project could have a positive local impact, as attested by the example of the port of Piraeus in Greece. Acquired by the Chinese company Cosco Shipping in 2016, Piraeus quickly became a crucial link in the trade network between Asia and Europe. Its modernization led to increased cargo volumes, positively impacting the local economy. For Greece, this translated to job creation and a much-needed economic boost.
Potential Risks of the Belt and Road Initiative
However, the BRI raises transparency concerns. According to a report published by the American institute AidData in 2021, the Chinese initiative has been embroiled in several major corruption scandals in some recipient countries. While Lebanon was not explicitly mentioned, it already suffers from a notorious reputation for corruption. Nonetheless, Chinese dominance tied to the BRI extends beyond its immediate sphere, particularly in economic terms. The initiative primarily aims to counter American economic influence. Unlike its competitor, China isn’t focused on expanding its cultural influence… Yet it is slowly but surely making its mark in the Land of the Cedars.

Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on June 01-02/2024
PM Benjamin Netanyahu: Gaza war won't end until Hamas destroyed
Jerusalem/June 01/2024
Yair Lapid criticized Netanyahu's comments and called for Smotrich and Ben-Gvir to leave the government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed over X, formally Twitter, on Saturday that the war against Hamas in Gaza would continue until the terrorist organization was destroyed. “Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed: The destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel,” the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) stated. "Under the proposal, Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is put in place," the PMO's office continued. "The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are fulfilled is a non-starter." Lapid urges restraint. Later, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, took to X to urge the prime minister to heed US President Joe Biden's address wherein the president advocated for an Israeli-proposed hostage-ceasefire deal. "The Israeli government cannot ignore President Biden's significant speech. There is a deal on the table and it needs to be done. "I remind Netanyahu that he has a safety net from us for a hostage deal if Ben-Gvir and Smotrich leave the government." Lapid's comments referred to a vow he made to Netanyahu in February that he would ensure the prime minister's government retained the necessary mandates to remain viable in the event that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Ben-Gvir left the government in protest of a hostage deal. Tal Spungin and Sam Halpern contributed to this report

Israel’s Smotrich: press Gaza offensive until Hamas destroyed, hostages returned
REUTERS/June 01, 2024
JERUSALEM: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich demanded on Saturday that the Gaza offensive be pursued until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages held by the Palestinian militants are rescued, saying he would not stay in government otherwise.
In a post on X, Smotrich, head of the far-right Religious Zionism party, said he also opposed any interim truce measures like a withdrawal of Israeli troops, return of Palestinians to northern Gaza or a large-scale release of security prisoners.

Mediators urge Israel, Hamas to finalize truce outlined by Biden
AFP/June 01, 2024
DOHA: Gaza mediators Qatar, the United States and Egypt called on Israel and Hamas Saturday to finalize a truce and hostage release deal based on the framework set out by US President Joe Biden. “As mediators in the ongoing discussions to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages and detainees, Qatar, the United States and Egypt jointly call on both Hamas and Israel to finalize the agreement embodying the principles outlined by President Joe Biden,” said a joint statement released by the Qatari foreign ministry. The three governments have been engaged in months of talks aimed at securing a truce between Israel and Hamas. But behind-the-scenes negotiations reached a stalemate in early May as Israel sent ground forces into Rafah. The US president said on Friday that Israel was offering a new three-stage roadmap toward a full ceasefire, including the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. The joint statement from the three mediating countries said the principles in Biden’s speech “brought the demands of all the parties together in a deal that serves multiple interests.” It said the framework “will bring immediate relief both to the long-suffering people of Gaza as well as the long-suffering hostages and their families.”“This deal offers a roadmap for a permanent ceasefire and ending the crisis,” it added. The statement came after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held separate calls with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

‘Biden is our only hope’: Thousands of Israelis urge hostage deal
AFP/June 01, 2024
Tel Aviv: Thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv Saturday to demand acceptance of a ceasefire and hostage release deal outlined by US President Joe Biden, with many fearing the premier would reject the proposal.Israeli and US flags dotted the crowd in the central plaza they have dubbed Hostages Square, alongside banners urging: “Bring them home!“ “Biden is our only hope,” protester Abigail Zur, 34, told AFP. The US president said on Friday that Israel was offering a new three-stage roadmap toward a full ceasefire, including the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. Demonstrators told AFP they were worried that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would disown the deal. “Biden cares about our hostages more than Netanyahu does,” said Karen, a protester in her early fifties, as others chanted: “Now, Now.” Netanyahu was more concerned about his own political future, said protester Diti Kapuano, 46. “I hope that somehow Biden puts enough pressure so the government and Netanyahu will take the deal,” she said. Campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement: “In light of President Biden’s speech last night, we will demand that the Israeli government immediately approve the (hostage release deal) and bring all the hostages home at once. “We will also call on all government ministers and coalition members to publicly commit to supporting the deal and not to allow the possibility of torpedoing it and endangering the hostages,” the group said, adding that it had contacted various embassies to urge them to support the plan. Netanyahu insisted on Saturday that the plan laid out by Biden did not preclude fighting on until Hamas’s ability to rule Gaza and pose a threat to Israel had been destroyed. Hamas said it “views positively” the plan laid out by Biden. The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,189 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.Militants also took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,379 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

'Time for this war to end': Biden pushes Israeli plan for Gaza truce
Agence France Presse/June 01/2024
U.S. President Joe Biden overnight said that Israel has offered a new roadmap towards a permanent peace in Gaza, urging Hamas to accept the surprise deal as it was "time for this war to end." In his first major address outlining a solution to the conflict, Biden said the three-phase proposal starts with a six-week complete ceasefire that would see Israeli forces withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza. "It's time for this war to end, for the day after to begin," Biden said in a televised address from the White House. "Israel has offered a comprehensive new proposal. It's a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages," he said. The 81-year-old Democrat is under pressure at home to bring an end to the Gaza war ahead of a tight U.S. presidential election in November against Donald Trump, with nationwide campus protests and anger in his own party. Biden said the onus for peace was on the Palestinian militant group Hamas, whose attack on key US ally Israel on October 7 last year trigged the grinding conflict in Gaza. "Hamas needs to take the deal," said Biden, who has supported Israel with billions of dollars in military aid since the conflict began. But Biden said he had also urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders not to "lose this moment," saying Israel's offensive had significantly degraded Hamas. "Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another October 7," said Biden. Biden said the first six-week phase would include a "full and complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly, the wounded, in exchange for release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners."Israel and Hamas would then negotiate during those six weeks for a lasting ceasefire -- but the truce would continue if the talks remained underway, Biden said. "As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, a temporary ceasefire would become, in the words of the Israeli proposal, the cessation of hostilities permanently," added Biden. A third phase would involve years of internationally backed reconstruction.
Small gaps
Biden's address comes after repeated attempts to end the war have stalled. Netanyahu said after Biden's speech that the Gaza war would not end until the "elimination" of Hamas's capacity to govern and make war. Hamas, which received the proposal on Wednesday through mediator Qatar, has insisted that any ceasefire should be permanent. But in a statement, the Palestinian Islamist movement said on Friday it "considers positively" the contents of Biden's speech. Earlier Friday, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh reiterated that the group's core demands -- including a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal -- "are non-negotiable." A senior U.S. official said however that the new Israeli proposal was "almost identical" to what Hamas itself had offered a few weeks ago -- admitting that there were still "small gaps."Top US diplomat Antony Blinken called his counterparts from Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on Friday to press the deal. Blinken "underscored that the proposal is in the interests of both Israelis and Palestinians, as well as the long-term security of the region," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
Rafah
Biden did not significantly address Israel's assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The Israeli army said Friday its troops had pushed into the city center despite international objections. Biden acknowledged however that Palestinians were enduring "sheer hell." The U.S. president has been under international pressure over his support for Israel since a deadly strike on Rafah set ablaze a crowded camp on Sunday. Gaza officials said 45 people were killed and about 250 wounded. The White House however said this week that while the Israeli strike was "devastating," it did not breach Biden's red lines for withholding weapons deliveries to the key U.S. ally.

Congressional leaders invite Netanyahu to deliver an address at the Capitol
Associated Press/June 01/2024
Congressional leaders have invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to deliver an address a the Capitol, a show of wartime support for the longtime ally despite mounting political divisions over Israel's military assault on Gaza. The invitation from House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, along with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, has been in the works for some time. No date for the speech was set. Leaders said the invitation was extended to "highlight America's solidarity with Israel." "We invite you to share the Israeli government's vision for defending democracy, combatting terror and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region," they wrote. A speech by Netanyahu would almost certainly expose election-year divisions in the U.S., where a growing number of Democrats have turned away from the right-wing prime minister, while Republicans have embraced him. Johnson first suggested inviting the Israeli leader, saying it would be "a great honor of mine" to invite him. That came soon after Schumer, who is the highest ranking Jewish elected official in the U.S., had delivered a stinging rebuke of Netanyahu. Schumer said in the speech that Netanyahu had "lost his way" amid the Israeli bombing campaign in Gaza. Even so, Schumer had said he would join in the invitation because "our relationship with Israel is ironclad and transcends any one prime minister or president."
The Israel-Hamas war, now in its seventh month after the Oct. 7 surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group, has caused widespread concerns in the U.S. and abroad over Israel's conduct and the extensive civilian death toll. As Israel pushes into Rafah in Gaza, the International Criminal Court has accused Netanyahu and his defense minister, along with three Hamas leaders, of war crimes — a largely symbolic act but one that further isolates the Israeli leader. President Joe Biden in supporting Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas lambasted the ICC's case against Netanyahu, but he has nevertheless grown critical of Israel's war plans, and has pressed for assurances of humanitarian aid. On Friday, Biden encouraged a three-phase deal proposed by Israel to Hamas militants that he says would lead to the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza and could end the war. He urged Israelis and Hamas to come to an agreement to release the remaining hostages for an extended ceasefire, arguing that Hamas is "no longer capable" of carrying out another large-scale attack on Israel as it did in October. Biden called the proposal "a road map to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages."It is unclear if Biden and Netanyahu would meet in Washington. Earlier this week, Spain, Norway and Ireland recognized a Palestinian state, a move that was condemned by Israel. Slovenia's government also endorsed a motion to recognize a Palestinian state and asked the parliament to do the same.
Typically, a high-profile congressional invitation is issued jointly and in consultation with the White House. But in 2015, Netanyahu was invited to address Congress in a rebuff to then-President Barack Obama by a previous Republican speaker during disputes over Iran. On Capitol Hill, the debates over the Israel-Hamas war have been pitched, heated and divisive, amplified during the college campus protests this spring, showing how the once ironclad support for Israel has weakened and splintered.
Republicans, including presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, have been eager to display their support for Netanyahu and expose the Democratic divisions over Israel. More recently, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, became the highest ranking Republican elected official from the U.S. to deliver a speech before the Israeli parliament.

Iran condemns EU sanctions over drone program
Agence France Presse/June 01/2024
Iran on Saturday criticized the European Union's imposition of new sanctions on high-ranking officials and the Revolutionary Guards for supplying drones to Russia and its Middle East allies. The EU's measures unveiled on Friday target Iran's Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani and Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Guards' foreign operations arm, the Quds Force, among others. The sanctions also target an armed forces command center, the head of a state aviation firm and the Kavan Electronics Behrad company. The Islamic republic's foreign ministry described the move as "regrettable," saying they were based on "repeated, absurd, and baseless excuses and accusations." "The European Union... once again resorted to the obsolete and ineffective tool of sanctions against the powerful Iran," ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a statement. The sanctions forbid any EU citizen or company from engaging in business with the listed individuals and organizations. The United States and its allies including Israel accuse Iran of providing fleets of drones to its allies in the Middle East, notably to Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Kyiv and its Western allies also accuse Iran of providing Russia with drones for use in the Ukraine war, a claim the Islamic republic denies.

Congressional leaders invite Netanyahu to deliver an address at the Capitol
Associated Press/June 01/2024
Congressional leaders have invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to deliver an address a the Capitol, a show of wartime support for the longtime ally despite mounting political divisions over Israel's military assault on Gaza. The invitation from House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, along with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, has been in the works for some time. No date for the speech was set. Leaders said the invitation was extended to "highlight America's solidarity with Israel." "We invite you to share the Israeli government's vision for defending democracy, combatting terror and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region," they wrote. A speech by Netanyahu would almost certainly expose election-year divisions in the U.S., where a growing number of Democrats have turned away from the right-wing prime minister, while Republicans have embraced him. Johnson first suggested inviting the Israeli leader, saying it would be "a great honor of mine" to invite him. That came soon after Schumer, who is the highest ranking Jewish elected official in the U.S., had delivered a stinging rebuke of Netanyahu. Schumer said in the speech that Netanyahu had "lost his way" amid the Israeli bombing campaign in Gaza. Even so, Schumer had said he would join in the invitation because "our relationship with Israel is ironclad and transcends any one prime minister or president."
The Israel-Hamas war, now in its seventh month after the Oct. 7 surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group, has caused widespread concerns in the U.S. and abroad over Israel's conduct and the extensive civilian death toll. As Israel pushes into Rafah in Gaza, the International Criminal Court has accused Netanyahu and his defense minister, along with three Hamas leaders, of war crimes — a largely symbolic act but one that further isolates the Israeli leader. President Joe Biden in supporting Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas lambasted the ICC's case against Netanyahu, but he has nevertheless grown critical of Israel's war plans, and has pressed for assurances of humanitarian aid. On Friday, Biden encouraged a three-phase deal proposed by Israel to Hamas militants that he says would lead to the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza and could end the war. He urged Israelis and Hamas to come to an agreement to release the remaining hostages for an extended ceasefire, arguing that Hamas is "no longer capable" of carrying out another large-scale attack on Israel as it did in October. Biden called the proposal "a road map to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages."It is unclear if Biden and Netanyahu would meet in Washington. Earlier this week, Spain, Norway and Ireland recognized a Palestinian state, a move that was condemned by Israel. Slovenia's government also endorsed a motion to recognize a Palestinian state and asked the parliament to do the same. Typically, a high-profile congressional invitation is issued jointly and in consultation with the White House. But in 2015, Netanyahu was invited to address Congress in a rebuff to then-President Barack Obama by a previous Republican speaker during disputes over Iran. On Capitol Hill, the debates over the Israel-Hamas war have been pitched, heated and divisive, amplified during the college campus protests this spring, showing how the once ironclad support for Israel has weakened and splintered. Republicans, including presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, have been eager to display their support for Netanyahu and expose the Democratic divisions over Israel. More recently, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, became the highest ranking Republican elected official from the U.S. to deliver a speech before the Israeli parliament.

US and allies clash with China and Russia over North Korea's launches and threats to use nukes
Edith M. Lederer/UNITED NATIONS (AP)/June 01/2024
The United States and allies South Korea and Japan clashed with China and Russia Friday over North Korea’s latest satellite and ballistic missile launches and threats to use nuclear weapons that have escalated tensions in northeast Asia.The scene was an emergency open meeting of the U.N. Security Council called after North Korea’s failed launch of a military reconnaissance satellite on May 27 and other launches using ballistic missile technology in violation of U.N. sanctions.
Since the beginning of 2022, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea – the North’s official name – has launched over 100 missiles using this banned technology as it has advanced its nuclear weapons program. In response, the U.S. and its allies have carried out an increasing number of military exercises.
U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari briefed the council meeting saying sovereign states have the right to benefit from peaceful space activities – but the DPRK is expressly prohibited from conducting launches using ballistic missile technology and its continuing violations undermine global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation treaties. “We remain deeply concerned about growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula,” Khiari said. “There is a need for practical measures to reduce tensions, reverse the dangerous dynamic, and create space to explore diplomatic avenues.”
North Korea’s U.N. Ambassador Kim Song insisted that its satellite launches – and it had a successful one last November – are “the legitimate and universal right of a sovereign state” under international law and the Outer Space Treaty. He stressed that reconnaissance satellites are not only needed to strengthen its self-defense capabilities but to defend its sovereignty. Kim told the Security Council that the “massive deployment of strategic assets and aggressive war exercises” by the United States on the Korean Peninsula and in the region have broken all records and destroyed the military balance.
This has turned the Korean Peninsula “into the most fragile zone in the world, fraught with the danger of outbreak of war,” he said, claiming that joint military exercises since the beginning of the year are “a U.S.-led nuclear war rehearsal.”
The DPRK ambassador said the Security Council shouldn’t waste time debating the legitimate rights of a sovereign state, but should direct its attention to putting an immediate end to the killing of civilians in Gaza, “which continues unabated under U.S. patronage.”South Korea’s U.N. Ambassador Joonkook Hwang said it should be his country – not the DPRK – that should claim the right to self-defense.
He said the DPRK’s nuclear policy and its rhetoric “are getting increasing aggressive and hostile," and Pyongyang no longer views its nuclear arsenal as just a deterrent against the United States, “but instead as a means to attack my country.”
He quoted DPRK leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, saying two weeks ago that the only purpose of their tactical nuclear weapons “is to teach a lesson to Seoul.”
U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood urged the Security Council to condemn the DPRK’s launches and hold it accountable for violating U.N. sanctions.
“But two council members, China and Russia, continuously block the Security Council from speaking against the DPRK’s behavior with one voice and makes us all less safe,” he said. Wood also accused the DPRK of unlawfully transferring dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of munitions to Russia to aid its war against Ukraine, “prolonging the suffering of the Ukrainian people.”
He rejected as “groundless” and disingenuous” claims by the DPRK and its supporters on the council that its missile launches are a response to U.S.-led military exercises.
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Anna Evstigneeva countered that “one of the key catalysts for the growing tensions in the region has been and remains the build-up of military activity by the U.S. and its allies.” U.S.-led military drills against the DPRK and numerous other hostile acts with a threatening military component "are provoking countermeasures from North Korea, which is forced to take action to strengthen its national defense capacity,” she said. Evstigneeva claimed “the unstable situation around the Korean Peninsula is of benefit to Washington, which continues to confidently and deliberately pursue the path of confrontation instead of dialogue.”
She also dismissed claims that Russia is engaging in illegal military and technical cooperation with the DPRK as “absolutely unfounded.”
China’s U.N. ambassador, Fu Cong, called the situation on the Korean Peninsula “highly tense, with antagonism and confrontation escalating,” and called on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any actions or rhetoric that might increase tension.
He warned that a planned large-scale joint military exercise on the peninsula in August “practicing a scenario involving a nuclear war” will only increase tensions.
U.S. envoy Wood retorted that “the United States is in no way a threat to the DPRK,” stressing that the U.S. offer to reach out “an open hand” and hold talks with the DPRK without preconditions over the past few years “has been met with a clenched fist.”
Edith M. Lederer, The Associated Press

Gaza ceasefire plan should be given ‘positive’ consideration, Taoiseach says
David Young/PA Media: UK News/June 1, 2024
A proposed deal to end the conflict in Gaza can create the space to build a just and lasting peace based on a two-state solution, Ireland’s premier has said. Taoiseach Simon Harris encouraged Israel and Hamas to give the three-phase plan outlined by President Joe Biden “serious and positive consideration”. The first phase would involve a six-week ceasefire, an Israeli withdrawal from densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of some hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. The second phase would see Hamas freeing all remaining living hostages, including Israeli soldiers, while the Israeli Defence Forces would make a full withdrawal from Gaza. The third phase would focus on the reconstruction of Gaza. On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office insisted the conditions for ending the war have “not changed”. It said that would only happen with the destruction of the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and the freeing of all hostages. Ireland formally recognised Palestinian statehood last month in a move heavily criticised by Israel. Mr Harris said the opportunity to end the war should not be missed. “I have long called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and unimpeded access for aid into Gaza,” he said. “Now after almost eight months of conflict and suffering, there is a plan on the table that can move us closer to securing those goals and that can help create space to build a just and lasting peace and two-state solution. “I call on all parties to give the plan presented by President Biden serious and positive consideration. “This is an opportunity that should not be missed. “It is long past time for the suffering to end.”

Families of hostages in Gaza back cease-fire deal set out by Biden. Israel says conditions remain
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)/June 1, 2024
Families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas called for all parties to immediately accept a proposal detailed by U.S. President Joe Biden to end the war in Gaza, but Israel's government said that conditions for a cease-fire still must be met. Biden outlined a three-phase deal Friday that he said was proposed by Israel to Hamas, saying the militant group is “no longer capable” of carrying out a large-scale attack on Israel like the one in October that started the fighting. He urged Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement to release about 100 remaining hostages, along with the bodies of around 30 more, for an extended cease-fire in Gaza. Cease-fire talks halted last month after a push by the U.S. and other mediators to secure a deal in hopes of averting a full-scale Israeli invasion of Gaza's southern city of Rafah. Israel says the Rafah operation is key to uprooting Hamas fighters responsible for the Oct. 7 attack.
Israel on Friday confirmed its troops were operating in central parts of the city. The ground assault has led around 1 million Palestinians to leave Rafah and has thrown humanitarian operations into turmoil.
Following Biden's speech, hostage families said time was running out.
“This might be the last chance to save lives," Gili Roman told The Associated Press. His sister, Yarden Roman-Gat, was taken hostage and freed during a weeklong cease-fire in November, but Yarden’s sister-in-law, Carmel, is still held. Roman added: “There is no other way towards a better situation for all. Our leadership must not disappoint us. But mostly, all eyes should be on Hamas.”The proposal came after what hostage families called an aggressive meeting Thursday with Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, who told them that the government wasn’t ready to sign a deal to bring all hostages home and that there was no plan B. Hanegbi said this week he expects the war to continue another seven months to destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group. Netanyahu has promised a “total victory” that would remove Hamas from power, dismantle its military structure and return the hostages. On Saturday, the government said that its conditions for ending the war hadn't changed and that putting a permanent cease-fire in place before the conditions are fulfilled is a “nonstarter."
Many families of hostages accuse the government of a lack of will to secure a deal. “We know that the government of Israel has done an awful lot to delay reaching a deal, and that has cost the lives of many people who survived in captivity for weeks and weeks and months and months,” Sharone Lifschitz said. Her mother, Yocheved, was freed in the November cease-fire, and her father, Oded, is still held. The first phase of the deal announced by Biden would would last for six weeks and include a “full and complete cease-fire,” a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older people and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The second phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza. The third phase calls for the start of a major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from the war's devastation. Biden acknowledged that keeping the proposal on track would be difficult, with a number of “details to negotiate” to move from the first phase to the second. Biden said that if Hamas fails to fulfil its commitment under the deal, Israel can resume military operations. Hamas said in a statement Friday that it viewed the proposal “positively” and called on Israel to declare explicit commitment to an agreement that includes a permanent cease-fire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, a prisoner exchange and other conditions. In Deir al-Balah, where many Palestinians have fled following Israel’s ground assault on Rafah, there was some hope. “This proposal came late, but better late than never,” said Akram Abu Al-Hasan. “Therefore, we hope from God, the American administration, and the European community in general to continue to put pressure on Israel for a cease-fire." The main difference from previous proposals is the readiness to stop the war for an undefined period, according to analysts. It leaves Israel the option to renew the war and diminish Hamas' ability to govern, but over time, said Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum in Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University. Experts said that Biden's speech was one of the few times that gave hope the war might end. “It was a very good speech ... it seems that Biden is trying to force it on the Israeli government, he was clearly speaking directly to the Israeli people,” said Gershon Baskin, director for the Middle East at the International Communities Organization. Also on Saturday, Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera News said that officials from Egypt, the United States and Israel would meet in Cairo over the weekend for talks about the Rafah crossing, which has been closed since Israel took over the Palestinian side in early May. The crossing is one of the main ways for aid to enter Gaza. Egypt has refused to open its side, fearing the Israeli hold will remain permanent. Egypt has demanded that Palestinians be put back in charge of the facility. The White House has been pressing Egypt to resume the flow of trucks. Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7 killed around 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducted about 250. More than 36,370 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israel's campaign of bombardment and offensives, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Its count doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants.

Israel maintains a shadowy hospital in the desert for Gaza detainees - AP explains
Canadian Press/June 1, 2024
Israel maintains a shadowy hospital in the desert for Gaza detainees - AP explainsScroll back up to restore default view. Patients lying shackled and blindfolded on more than a dozen beds inside a white tent in the desert. Surgeries performed without adequate painkillers. Doctors who remain anonymous. These are some of the conditions at Israel's only hospital dedicated to treating Palestinians detained by the military in the Gaza Strip, three people who have worked there told The Associated Press, confirming similar accounts from human rights groups. Eight months into the Israel-Hamas war, accusations of inhumane treatment at the Sde Teiman military field hospital are on the rise, and the Israeli government is under growing pressure to shut it down. The military denies the allegations of inhumane treatment and says all detainees needing medical attention receive it.

U.S.-sanctioned ex-officer among Iranian candidates to replace Raisi
DUBAI (Reuters)/ June 1, 2024
U.S.-sanctioned former Revolutionary Guards commander Vahid Haghanian was among candidates who registered on Saturday to run for election as Iran's president after Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash, state media reported. Haghanian, a close aide to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told reporters after registering that his qualifications were based on "experience from serving 45 years in the presidency and the leader's office". The U.S. Treasury designated Haghanian in 2019 among nine individuals in Khamenei's inner circle responsible for "advancing ... domestic and foreign oppression". Iran says most U.S. sanctions are prompted by baseless accusations. Former parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani, a prominent conservative, was among candidates who registered on Friday, as was Abdolnaser Hemmati, a former central bank governor. An election official told reporters on Saturday that 17 hopefuls had signed up since registration for the June 28 election opened on Thursday. The Guardian Council, a cleric-led body that vets candidates, will publish the list of qualified candidates on June 11. In the latest challenge to a ban on women running for president, conservative former lawmaker Zohreh Elahian registered on Saturday, telling reporters her motto would be "A healthy government, a healthy economy and a healthy society". The Guardian Council has ruled in earlier elections that Iran's Islamic laws prevent a woman becoming president. The death of Raisi - once seen as a possible successor to 85-year-old Khamenei, with whom power ultimately rests - has triggered a race among hardliners to influence the selection of Khamenei's successor. Moderate politicians have accused the 12-member Guardian Council of disqualifying candidates other than hardliners, who are expected to dominate the race. However, a lack of choice on the ballot, combined with rising discontent over an array of political, social and economic crises, could reduce turnout and thus the legitimacy of Iran's theocratic system of government. Within Iran's complex mix of clerical rulers and elected officials, Khamenei has the final say on all state matters such as nuclear and foreign policies. But the elected president will be in charge of tackling worsening economic hardship. Saeed Jalili, a former chief nuclear negotiator who two decades ago ran Khamenei's office for four years, was the first heavyweight hardliner to register for the election on Thursday. Interim President Mohammad Mokhber has also been mentioned in Iranian media as a possible candidate. Several lower-key moderates are also likely to enter the race. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, another former Revolutionary Guards commander who had been touted as a potential candidate, was re-elected on Tuesday as speaker of parliament, making it less likely that he might stand.

US defense secretary says war with China neither imminent nor unavoidable, stressing need for talks
SINGAPORE (AP)/June 1, 2024
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told a gathering of top security officials Saturday that war with China was neither imminent nor unavoidable, despite rapidly escalating tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, stressing the importance of renewed dialogue between him and his Chinese counterpart in avoiding “miscalculations and misunderstandings.” Austin's comments at the Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore came the day after he met for more than an hour on the sidelines with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, the first in-person meeting between the top defense officials since contacts between the American and Chinese militaries broke down in 2022 after then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, infuriating Beijing. Neither side budged from their longstanding positions on Taiwan — which China claims as its own and has not ruled out using force to take — and on China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea, which has led to direct confrontations between China and other nations in the region, most notably the Philippines. While declining to detail the specifics of their conversation, Austin said the most important thing was that the two were again talking.
“As long as we’re talking, we’re able to identify those issues that are troublesome and that we want to make sure that we have placed guardrails to ensure there are no misperceptions and no miscalculations … that can spiral out of control,” he said. “You can only do that kind of thing if you are talking.” Addressing the same forum on Friday night, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. bluntly outlined what could be at stake, saying that if a Filipino were killed as China confronts his country's coast guard and merchant fleet to press its claims in the South China Sea, it would be “very, very close to what we define as an act of war and therefore we will respond accordingly.” Marcos added that he assumed the Philippines' treaty partners, which include the U.S., “hold the same standard.” In his own speech, Austin lauded how Marcos “spoke so powerfully last night about how the Philippines is standing up for its sovereign rights under international law.” But when pressed later, he would not say how the U.S. might react if a Filipino were killed in a confrontation with China, calling it hypothetical. He did say the U.S. commitment to the Philippines as a treaty partner is “ironclad,” while again stressing the importance of dialogue with China. “There are a number of things that can happen at sea or in the air, we recognize that," he said. "But our goal is to make sure that we don't allow things to spiral out of control unnecessarily.” Dong was to speak to the conference himself Sunday morning. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been pushing for more air defense systems from Western allies, arrived unannounced on Saturday evening and will take part in a panel discussion on Sunday. Beijing in recent years has been rapidly expanding its navy and is becoming growingly assertive in pressing its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles noted that not only had Philippine ships been rammed and hit with water cannons by China, but said a Chinese warplane dropped flares above an Australian helicopter earlier in the year, and in November a Chinese navy ship injured Australian divers in Japanese waters with sonar. “In the face of these multiple sources of tension, it’s even more imperative that every country plays its part in managing increasing strategic risk,” he said.
In his own meeting with Dong, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara expressed “serious concerns” about China’s increasing military activities in the sea and airspace around Japan, including joint exercises with Russia, the Japanese Defense Ministry said in a statement. To counter the Chinese activity, the U.S. has been ramping up military exercises in the region with its allies to underscore its “free and open Indo-Pacific” concept, meant to emphasize freedom of navigation through the contested waters, including the Taiwan Strait. Chinese Senior Col. Cao Yanzhong, a researcher at China’s Institute of War Studies, asked Austin whether the U.S. was trying to create an Asian version of NATO with its emphasis on partnerships and alliances, a common Chinese claim. He suggested that could trigger conflict with China, citing ally Russia’s claim that NATO’s eastward expansion was a threat, which President Vladimir Putin has used as an excuse for his invasion of Ukraine. “The eastern expansion of NATO has led to the Ukraine crisis,” Cao said. “What implications do you think the strengthening of the U.S. alliance system in the Asia-Pacific will have on this region’s security and stability?”
Austin said the U.S. is simply cooperating with "like-minded countries with similar values” and not trying to create a NATO-type alliance, while rejecting Cao's interpretation of the cause of the Ukraine war. “The Ukraine crisis obviously was caused because Putin made a decision to unlawfully invade his neighbor,” Austin said. Expressing the concerns of some in the region, Indonesian academic Dewi Fortuna Anwar said any de-escalation of tensions “would be very welcome to this part of the world,” but wondered whether the U.S. would allow China's assertive military posture to grow uncontested if Washington's main emphasis was now dialogue. “We are also worried if you guys get too cozy, we also get trampled,” she said. Austin said that many of those issues were best addressed through talks, but also assured that Washington will continue to ensure that the rights of nations in the region were protected and that they continued to have access to their exclusive economic zones.“War or a fight with China is neither imminent, in my view, or unavoidable,” Austin said. “Leaders of great power nations need to continue to work together to ensure that we're doing things to reduce the opportunities for miscalculation and misunderstandings," he said. "Every conversation is not going to be a happy conversation, but it is important that we continue to talk to each other. And it is important that we continue to support our allies and partners on their interests as well.”

Kuwait’s Emir makes Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah crown prince
ARAB NEWS/June 01, 2024
LONDON: Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah issued a decree on Saturday appointing Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah as crown prince, the state news agency KUNA said. The Emiri order was issued after reviewing the constitution, taking into account Law No. 4 of 1964 regarding the inheritance of the emirate, the Emiri order issued on May 15, 2024 appointing the prime minister, the Emiri order issued on May 10, 2024, and Decree No. 73 issued on May 12, 2024 forming the ministry. “We ordered the following: Article (1): Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah shall be approved as Crown Prince,” KUNA said, citing the the order. “Article (2): The Prime Minister must present this matter to the Council of Ministers to take appropriate constitutional measures,” it added. “Article (3): This order of ours shall be effective from the date of its issuance and shall be published in the Official Gazette,” it also said. Sheikh Meshal issued the order at Seif Palace.

Latest English LCCC  analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on June 01-02/2024
Question: “What is the difference between religion and spirituality?”
GotQuestions.org/June 01/2024
Answer: Before we explore the difference between religion and spirituality, we must first define the two terms. Religion can be defined as “belief in God or gods to be worshiped, usually expressed in conduct and ritual” or “any specific system of belief, worship, etc., often involving a code of ethics.” Spirituality can be defined as “the quality or fact of being spiritual, non-physical” or “predominantly spiritual character as shown in thought, life, etc.; spiritual tendency or tone.” To put it briefly, religion is a set of beliefs and rituals that claim to get a person in a right relationship with God, and spirituality is a focus on spiritual things and the spiritual world instead of physical/earthly things.
The most common misconception about religion is that Christianity is just another religion like Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, etc. Sadly, many who claim to be adherents of Christianity do practice Christianity as if it were a religion. To many, Christianity is nothing more than a set of rules and rituals that a person has to observe in order to go to heaven after death. That is not true Christianity. True Christianity is not a religion; rather, it is having a right relationship with God by receiving Jesus Christ as the Savior-Messiah, by grace through faith. Yes, Christianity does have “rituals” to observe (e.g., baptism and communion). Yes, Christianity does have “rules” to follow (e.g., do not murder, love one another, etc.). However, these rituals and rules are not the essence of Christianity. The rituals and rules of Christianity are the result of salvation. When we receive salvation through Jesus Christ, we are baptized as a proclamation of that faith. We observe communion in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice. We follow a list of do’s and don’ts out of love for God and gratitude for what He has done.
The most common misconception about spirituality is that there are many forms of spirituality, and all are equally valid. Meditating in unusual physical positions, communing with nature, seeking conversation with the spirit world, etc., may seem to be “spiritual,” but they are in fact false spirituality. True spirituality is possessing the Holy Spirit of God as a result of receiving salvation through Jesus Christ. True spirituality is the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in a person’s life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Spirituality is all about becoming more like God, who is spirit (John 4:24) and having our character conformed to His image (Romans 12:1-2).
What religion and spirituality have in common is that they both can be false methods of having a relationship with God. Religion tends to substitute the heartless observance of rituals for a genuine relationship with God. Spirituality tends to substitute connection with the spirit world for a genuine relationship with God. Both can be, and often are, false paths to God. At the same time, religion can be valuable in the sense that it points to the fact that there is a God and that we are somehow accountable to Him. The only true value of religion is its ability to point out that we have fallen short and are in need of a Savior. Spirituality can be valuable in that it points out that the physical world is not all there is. Human beings are not only material, but also possess a soul-spirit. There is a spiritual world around us of which we should be aware. The true value of spirituality is that it points to the fact that there is something and someone beyond this physical world to which we need to connect.
Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of both religion and spirituality. Jesus is the One to whom we are accountable and to whom true religion points. Jesus is the One to whom we need to connect and the One to whom true spirituality points. Are you interested in discovering true religion and true spirituality? If the answer is yes, please begin your journey on our webpage that describes receiving Jesus Christ as your Personal Savior - https://www.gotquestions.org/personal-Savior.html.

US and UN's Dangerous Flirtation: Cuddling with Iran
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute./June 01/2024
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/130283/130283/
Since President Joe Biden assumed office in 2021, Iran has attacked US troops in the Middle East more than 170 times, apparently to drive US troops out of the region, to be able to continue "exporting the Revolution" unhindered. At present, Iran controls, in addition to its own country, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, the Gaza Strip, and appears to be eyeing Jordan and Sudan.
Ever since the presidency of Barack Obama, much US policy, no matter how decisively all evidence appears to point the other way, seems to entertain the fantasy of "bringing Iran in from the cold" -- a bit like assuming a beloved lady-of-the-night will be a submissive wife, cook and homemaker.
The conclusion always somehow appears to be that the US is just not trying hard enough: if only America would offer just a few more concessions or a few more billions, or send a better negotiator, Iran would see the error of its ways.
The US, unfortunately, has undertaken a dangerous flirtation with a regime that embodies nothing but terror and extremism.
These assaults by the UN are shameful acts of complicity, and only further highlight the troubling trend of international bodies and leaders who turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed by the Iranian regime and its proxies, and give terrorists a bigger weapon with which to bludgeon democracies.
The message the Biden administration is sending to the people of Iran and to America's allies is not to look to the US for help. To the Iranian people, who risk their lives every day in their struggle to overthrow this oppressive regime, the Biden administration, like Obama's, has sent only devastating indifference.
The administration seems not to care about [the American and other hostages] any more than they cared about the Americans and allies of the US who were abandoned and are still captive in Afghanistan. The message being sent again and again by the Biden administration is that if you want a reliable ally, go look somewhere else.
Ever since the presidency of Barack Obama, much US policy, no matter how decisively all evidence appears to point the other way, seems to entertain the fantasy of "bringing Iran in from the cold" -- a bit like assuming a beloved lady-of-the-night will be a submissive wife, cook and homemaker.
The Biden Administration may have set a new record in appeasing the Iranian regime, which is, according to the annual US Terrorism Report, the world's "Leading State Sponsor of Terrorism" and a flagrant violator of human rights.
While people in Iran were celebrating the death of the tyrannical President Ebrahim Raisi, whom they called "the Butcher of Tehran," the Biden Administration was sending condolences to the Iranian regime -- a move that sparked outrage and disbelief among those who champion democratic values and human rights (here, here and here).
The Biden administration was sending condolences to a regime that not only brutalizes its citizens, but that has also been using its militias and proxies -- Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, Palestinian Islamic Jihad -- to blow up peace throughout the Middle East, and sending missiles and drones to Russia -- after it illegally seized Georgia and Crimea -- to illegally attack Ukraine.
Iran reportedly helped its terrorist proxy Hamas to manage and plan its savage October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Iran then directly attacked Israel, a country smaller than New Jersey, with more than 300 ballistic missiles and drones on April 13-14.
Since President Joe Biden assumed office in 2021, Iran has attacked US troops in the Middle East more than 170 times, apparently to drive US troops out of the region, to be able to continue "exporting the Revolution" unhindered (here, here and here). At present, Iran controls, in addition to its own country, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, the Gaza Strip, and appears to be eyeing Jordan and Sudan.
Ever since the presidency of Barack Obama, much US policy, no matter how decisively all evidence appears to point the other way, seems to entertain the fantasy of "bringing Iran in from the cold" -- a bit like assuming a beloved lady-of-the-night will be a submissive wife, cook and homemaker.
The conclusion always somehow appears to be that the US is just not trying hard enough: if only America would offer just a few more concessions or a few more billions, or send a better negotiator, Iran would see the error of its ways.
The US, unfortunately, has undertaken a dangerous flirtation with a regime that embodies nothing but terror and extremism.
Sanctions that the Biden administration has lifted or ignored, including secondary sanctions -- notifying other countries that if they trade with Iran, they will be prohibited from trading with the US -- have enabled the Iranian regime to profit by an estimated $100 billion; more, according to the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, than "the annual budget of Greece or Ireland."
"Had Tehran's average daily export volume remained the same as it was while Donald Trump's maximum pressure policy was in effect from May 2019 to January 2021, the regime would have had $40 billion less to spend on ballistic missiles and proxy groups."
Most importantly, these profits have enabled Iran to accelerate completing its nuclear weapons program, if it has not already done so and is not just being paid to stay quiet before the US presidential election this November.
The United Nations, with more than 20 Muslim-majority member-states but one Jewish one, has established a track record for being irretrievably biased (here, here, here, here, here, here and here, for a start). Begun as an institution meant to uphold global justice and peace, instead over the years it has instead set its sights and its courts -- the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the illegitimate International Criminal Court (ICC) -- on Israel.
The ICJ, according to attorney Alan Dershowitz, "is an illegitimate tribunal that lacks authority," and the ICC, also according to him, is possibly even more illegitimate.
"The International Criminal Court is the creation of the Rome Statute, which severely limited its jurisdiction by the rule of complementarity. This rule expressly denies the ICC the authority to be the primary investigator or prosecutor of any individual who is subject to legitimate investigation and prosecution by his or her nation."
Of the ICJ proceedings, the Jerusalem Post wrote:
"For 35 minutes, the International Court of Justice bad-mouthed Israel, but then it surprised the Jewish state by not issuing any practical orders against the IDF.
"There was no order to cease the war and there was no order for the IDF to withdraw from Gaza....
"All of the other measures that the ICJ ordered are items which Israel says it agrees with in general: don't commit genocide, facilitate humanitarian aid, preserve evidence for probes of alleged war crimes, and prosecute Israelis who engage in illegal incitement against Palestinians."
The United Nations, which ruled in 1975 that "Zionism is Racism" (repealed in 1991 with the help of Ambassador John Bolton) nevertheless observed a minute of silence to honor "the Butcher of Tehran."
These assaults by the UN are shameful acts of complicity, and only further highlight the troubling trend of international bodies and leaders who turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed by the Iranian regime and its proxies, and give terrorists a bigger weapon with which to bludgeon democracies.
Under the Biden administration, the United States, traditionally seen as the leader of the free world and until recently a staunch defender of democracy, finds itself questioned about its commitment to opposing terrorism and the countries that sponsor terrorists it, and about its thinning support for the Free World.
The Biden administration's overtures to Iran, as witnessed by years of suicidal appeasement and now symbolized by the recent condolence message, are not only misguided but also a betrayal of the values that the US has long stood for. The actions of the Biden administration have emboldened China, Russia, Qatar, Iran and its terror proxies Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, and also undermine efforts to hold them accountable or even slow their belligerency, let alone stop it. There also seems not the slightest interest in the part of the Biden administration to support the Iranian people in their struggle for freedom and justice, and the end of torture and death sentences for "crimes" as monstrous as "committing" music or refusing to wear a headscarf (here, here and here).
Ebrahim Raisi, before becoming president, as deputy prosecutor of the Revolutionary Court, and as a member of the "Death Commission," was infamously linked to one of the world's largest mass executions, in which more than 30,000 Iranians were murdered, including children and pregnant women. A US House of Representatives resolution detailed:
"... over a 4-month period in 1988, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran carried out the barbaric mass executions of thousands of political prisoners and many unrelated political groups... according to a report by the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, the massacre was carried out pursuant to a fatwa, or religious decree, issued by then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini..."
Ultimately, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Raisi as the head of the regime's notorious judicial system. After his appointment, Raisi declared in a speech at the 23rd National Assembly of Revolutionary Guards Commanders and Officials in 2019: "We will not cut the fingers of those who are corrupt; we will cut off their entire hand." Under the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Treasury, on November 5, 2019, placed Raisi on its sanctions list.
Under Raisi's leadership, Iran-backed Hamas initiated the attack on October 7, launching a barrage of rockets at Israel while approximately 3,000 terrorists crossed the Gaza-Israel barrier and assaulted Israeli military bases and civilian communities. This onslaught resulted in the murder of 1,200 people in Israel, including Jews, Muslims, Christians, Israelis, tourists, and foreign workers. The atrocities Hamas committed include sustained gang-rape and torture of men, women and children, the beheading and burning alive of babies, and the seizure of 240 hostages who were abducted and taken to Hamas's tunnels in Gaza.
Also under Raisi's presidency, Iran forged closer ties with Russia and China. Iran has supplied Russia with powerful ballistic missiles and attack drones, and is helping to build a drone factory near Moscow -- all presumably to attack Ukraine. Iran has also been supplying China, its "top buyer," with oil.
"It is absurd that the Biden administration touted their support for human rights while, in the same breath, offering official condolences for the 'Butcher of Tehran.' Clearly, the Democrat Party of today has become the pro-terrorist party," US House Majority Whip Tom Emmer told Fox News Digital.
House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik called the State Department's message "unacceptable, unnecessary, and outrageous."
"Biden's State Department expressing condolences for the death of a brutal and monstrous enemy of America who tortured and killed his own people and led the charge to fund terrorist proxies around the world that have killed American soldiers is a new low for Joe Biden."
The message the Biden administration is sending to the people of Iran and to America's allies is not to look to the US for help. To the Iranian people, who risk their lives every day in their struggle to overthrow this oppressive regime, the Biden administration, like Obama's, has sent only devastating indifference. The administration's actions have consistently favored the Iranian regime at the not only at the expense of the Iranian people, but also at the expense of the deaths of three American troops killed and scores wounded in Iran's attacks on the US, and at the expense of the American and other innocent hostages still being held by Hamas. The administration seems not to care about them any more than they cared about the Americans and allies of the US who were abandoned and are still captive in Afghanistan. The message being sent again and again by the Biden administration is that if you want a reliable ally, go look somewhere else.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a business strategist and advisor, Harvard-educated scholar, political scientist, board member of Harvard International Review, and president of the International American Council on the Middle East. He has authored several books on Islam and US Foreign Policy. He can be reached at Dr.Rafizadeh@Post.Harvard.Edu
© 2024 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

Who can declare victory if a ceasefire would leave Hamas in power? - analysis
Seth J. Frantzman/Jerusalem/June 01/2024
What did Israel accomplish? It didn’t even defeat a terror group that had 20-30,000 fighters. When powerful countries fight weaker enemies the powerful country has more to lose via missteps. US President Joe Biden laid out a three-part ceasefire proposal on Friday. The proposal appears to leave Hamas in power in Gaza and could lead to Hamas benefiting via reconstruction. However, Israel has also defined its goals in Gaza in such a flexible way, without a clear strategy, that Hamas may be left in power under Israel’s current plan. “At this point, Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another October 7, just one of Israel’s main objectives in this war, and quite frankly a righteous one,” Biden said at the White House, according to CNN. The plan would lead to a “full and complete ceasefire,” and release of hostages. Israeli forces would withdraw from populated areas of Gaza and Hamas would release a “number” of hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. This same deal has been on the table for months and Hamas has been stringing Israel along, hoping pressure from other countries, such as Qatar and Egypt, could lead to Hamas getting better terms. The current proposal by the US mentioned an “exchange for the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers…and as long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire would become, in the words of the Israeli proposals, ‘the cessation of hostilities permanently.’” Then there would be a “major reconstruction plan for Gaza.”
French President Emmanuel Macron also called for the Gaza war to end. “We support the US proposal for a durable peace. Just as we are working with our partners in the region on peace and security for all. The release of the hostages, a permanent ceasefire to work towards peace and progress on the two-state solution.”
Israel’s conditions are slightly different, according to the Prime Minister whose office put out a statement on X. “Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed: The destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.” Israel’s conditions are flexible in this regard because the definition of “capabilities” and “threat” are quite broad. The overall trend of the war now appears to leave Hamas in power. Israeli officials have talked about fighting for another seven months, which is less than the “years” that some predicted months ago. In addition, Israel is also apparently in the process of ditching the “there won’t be Hamas” talking points, and references to total defeat or victory or elimination of Hamas. The current ceasefire plan is a plan to keep Hamas in power. The result will be that Hamas will return to running most of Gaza in the coming years and the reconstruction effort will likely empower Hamas as it has in the past. Unless Hamas is replaced by a different government in Gaza, Hamas will partner with the donors for reconstruction and it will have a hand in each building that is rebuilt.
In the past it has built tunnel shafts under buildings, including tunnels under schools and community centers. It will also be able to place weapons in the reconstructed areas. In the past the donors and humanitarian NGOs have shown that they are not willing to challenge Hamas or even report its presence. It built a terror state in Gaza and stockpiled more weapons per capita than most countries in the world. Hamas minders will seek to exploit reconstruction.
If Hamas is permitted to remain it will declare victory. It’s leaders have not been charged with the crimes of October 7, meaning that Hamas leaders in Doha will likely seek to take over the West Bank in coming years. Hamas is backed by Ankara, Doha and Tehran and also Moscow. Israel even more alone
The result of this will mean that Israel emerges from this war more isolated than in the past. Hezbollah and Iranian proxies have also benefited from this war and are not deterred. This round could end with Hamas more powerful than in the past, even though it has lost tunnels and personnel. The question for Israel will be what hundreds of soldiers were sacrificed for, if Hamas remains in power in Gaza.
It's plausible that if Israel’s enemies sense they have won there will be more provocations in the future. Hezbollah and Hamas have learned that rocket fire can now get Israel to evacuate the borders of Israel. Israel spent a lot of political capital on fighting this slow war.
It also waged it slowly without a desire for a quick decisive victory. Hamas units in central Gaza, for instance, are not badly damaged. The IDF didn’t defeat Hamas in Nuseirat, Deir al-Balah, Maghazi and Bureij. The Palestinian Authority has been weakened by the war as well, leading to the northern West Bank becoming inflamed. Weapons are also flowing to terror groups in the northern West Bank. When you go into a war you need to ask who will benefit from a long war and a war without a goal or without clear victory. The terrorists clearly benefit. Israel doesn’t appear to benefit. Now Israel may be trapped into a ceasefire where very few goals are met in Gaza. A weak Hamas can recover. Iran learned a lot in this war about Israel’s vulnerabilities. What did Israel accomplish? It didn’t even defeat a terror group that had one 20-30,000 fighters. When powerful countries fight weaker enemies the powerful country has more to lose via missteps. This may have been a march of folly.

The end of ANC dominance in South Africa
Andrew Hammond/Arab News/June 01, 2024
Future historians might look back on May 2024 as a pivotal moment in South Africa’s post-apartheid history, with potentially major implications not only domestically but internationally as well.
The reason for this tipping point is that the elections on May 29 indicated that the era of political dominance by the African National Congress might be over. In the six prior national ballots since 1994, the ANC won significantly more than 50 percent of the vote but that changed this week, likely heralding a new era of co-governance and, with it, new uncertainties.
There is even a growing possibility that as soon as 2029, South Africa could deliver the first non-ANC government in the nation’s post-apartheid history.
The ANC remains the largest party for now, well ahead of a growing number of opposition movements; more than 50 parties registered for the 2024 election, a record number, and independent candidates allowed to stand for the first time.
There is a possibility the ANC could form a minority government but that would constrain its ability to adopt policies and introduce legislation. So it will probably have to strike agreements or form a coalition with other parties to remain in government under President Cyril Ramaphosa — or possibly his successor, such as his deputy Paul Mashatile — if he decides to step down or if there is a leadership challenge.
When the final election results are confirmed, the ANC will have 14 days to form a government before a new parliament must convene to elect a president. The speed with which a coalition can be formed, or not, might well prove to be a leading indicator of how much political gridlock to expect in the next few years. While much of the focus is on the domestic implications of the significant political change the 2024 election delivered, the international ramifications could also be key. In the past decade or two, South Africa’s economy — the largest on the continent, with a gross domestic product of about $370 billion — has badly underperformed. Its GDP is only about one-fiftieth that of China, despite both nations being members of the BRICS group of emerging markets alongside founder members India, Russia and Brazil.
What this highlights is the significantly diverging economic trajectories of these key emerging markets in recent years. Among the original BRICS members, China and India have enjoyed generally robust economic performance over the past two decades, in contrast with disappointing results not only in South Africa but also in Brazil and Russia.
So a key question, not only domestically but internationally, is whether South Africa can turn this economic situation around. According to the World Bank, the nation’s economy has retrogressed over the past decade and a half, with per capita GDP falling from a high point in 2011. This has led to a significant drop in living standards, with its people more than 20 percent less well-off on average.
There is a growing possibility that as soon as 2029, South Africa could deliver the first non-ANC government in the nation’s post-apartheid history.
It is estimated that about a third of the labor force is unemployed, the highest rate in any country monitored by the World Bank. Income inequality is exceptionally high, with more than twice as many people (over 18 million) on welfare benefits compared with the number of taxpayers (about 7 million).
One consequence of this economic malaise is that a significant proportion of South African-listed firms are currently valued at a discount relative to those in other key emerging markets. This creates a potential opportunity for investors, albeit one with political risk.
The key variable that will affect the economy most, in the next few years at least, is perhaps the nature of the co-governance the ANC opts for. Prior to the election, there were hopes within the business community that the party would win close to 50 percent of the vote and so be able to co-govern with one or more of the smaller parties, such as the Inkatha Freedom Party, the Patriotic Alliance and/or the Muslim party Al-Jama-ah.
However, the ANC has underperformed even in terms of these reduced expectations, raising the possibility it might need to do a deal with a larger party. One option in this case is the business-friendly Democratic Alliance, which took second place in the ballot.
However, investors are concerned that a window of opportunity might now open up for the ANC to govern with the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters, led by the radical Julius Malema, and/or former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party. These parties have plans to potentially expropriate land without compensation, and nationalize the nation’s central bank. Many investors are therefore worried that an ANC collaboration with one or both of them could result in the reversal of some early signs that Ramaphosa’s economic reforms might slowly, but surely, be working.
There is also broader uncertainty over the implications of the growing fragmentation of the nation’s polity. The country increasingly seems split along identity lines; the ANC, once depicted as unifying a “rainbow nation” now increasingly draws its support from the 80 percent black majority population.
For now, no major political group seems able to reflect the multiracial reality of a country that also has a significant number of people who are white, of Indian heritage or who are of biracial ethnicity.
The election has, therefore, created significant political and economic uncertainty, and there are several possible trajectories the nation could take in the second half of this decade. The key variable now is which, if any, political partners the ANC will choose to help it govern Africa’s largest economy.
*Andrew Hammond is an Associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics.

How a warming planet threatens the Nile Delta
Hafed Al-Ghwell/Arab News/June 01, 2024
The Nile Delta, the cradle of historical, agricultural, and cultural heritage for Egypt, is on the cusp of an ecological disaster largely driven by climate change.
The Delta that has nourished Egyptian civilization for millennia is now gravitating toward becoming an epicenter for some of the most consequential effects of climate change within the region.
The Delta has long been flagged as a zone of high vulnerability, with forecasts of alarming scenarios resulting from rising temperatures and rising sea levels.
The densely populated Delta is home to half of Egypt’s population, close to 50 million people. The demographic densification of the region underpins not only the socioeconomic fabric of Egypt but also previews the scale at which climate change could propagate human and economic devastation.
Notably, the region’s coastline is acutely vulnerable to rising sea levels, particularly in areas around Alexandria, one of the largest cities on the Mediterranean. Predictive models suggest a grim future; projections indicate that 25 percent of the Delta could be submerged within a few decades if the current trajectory continues.The socioeconomic ramifications of this are profound. Alexandria’s proximity to the sea places a significant proportion of its infrastructure and population at direct risk. Even a small rise in sea level could displace two million people and annihilate more than 200,000 jobs.
The situation gets even worse when we consider the Delta’s rural expanses, where population density has reached staggering levels, and agriculture, the backbone of local economies, is already facing grave threats. Irregular weather patterns have led to unpredictable water availability, marked by spells of drought interspersed with record floods, both of which take their toll on agriculture. The sector provides employment for a large proportion of the population in the Nile Delta, so the effects of such dramatic variations have far-reaching socioeconomic consequences.
As noted, the Delta’s proximity to the Mediterranean Sea leaves it extremely vulnerable to predicted rises in sea levels, which not only threaten to inundate vast tracts of arable land but also cause the displacement of millions of people. As the sea encroaches on land, saltwater intrusion results in the salinization of soil, with severe effects on crop yields and the livelihoods of farming communities.
Unchecked, these debilitating effects will aggravate existing challenges, such as ensuring food and water security not only for local communities but also for the wider population of Egypt, given the reliance on the Delta region as the nation’s breadbasket.
Moreover, environmental stressors can act as catalysts for secondary or follow-on issues, such as irregular migration, as those who can no longer sustain traditional ways of life are forced to move to already overcrowded urban centers, placing further strain on resources and services.
The resultant socioeconomic pressures can quickly escalate into prolonged periods of unrest, episodic violence, and even all-out conflict. As such, the Nile Delta has become a microcosm for the adverse effects of climate change, as well as a stark reminder of the increasingly urgent need for local, national, and global action to mitigate impending catastrophes.Farming in desert areas requires a significant rethinking of traditional cultivation methods due to the vast differences in soil and climate conditions.
In response, the Egyptian government is implementing a multifaceted adaptation plan, the estimated cost of which is $8 billion. The first line of defense consists of a 35 km barricade of star-shaped concrete blocks along the shore near Alexandria, to combat erosion and protect against rising sea levels. However, the effectiveness of such barriers is limited as the farmers who cultivate the land immediately behind them are still left to struggle with the increased salinity of the soil and water scarcity.
In addressing the challenges arising from shortages of water specifically, the government has acknowledged the need for comprehensive water management strategies, including planned investments of nearly $3 billion in desalination plants designed to produce 5 billion cubic meters of water annually by 2050.
Such investments will likely go a long way to reducing the severity of enduring water insecurity issues. At present, the demand for water is about 35 percent higher than supply, and the population is projected to grow by 30-40 million in the next 25 years.
Additionally, the state is working to encourage agricultural expansions into desert areas by connecting more than 1.5 million acres of land to the Nile’s waters through expansive irrigation projects. This aims to alleviate some of the pressure on the Delta while tapping into previously under-utilized land for food production. It also anticipates that soil fertility in areas closest to the Mediterranean might be lost permanently as a result of increased salinity.
While the government’s actions are notable for their ambition and scale, there are drawbacks and challenges to these approaches. The seawall barriers are a highly visible form of action but offer only temporary relief against the steady encroachment of the sea and do not address the deeper issues of soil degradation inland.
Desalination, meanwhile, could potentially alleviate water scarcity issues. However, it is an energy intensive “solution” which, unless renewable energy sources are used to power it, might contribute to further emissions that exacerbate climate impacts in the quest for adaptation.
Besides, farming in desert areas requires a significant rethinking of traditional cultivation methods due to the vast differences in soil and climate conditions.
A surprising, yet little discussed, type of intervention offers a much more promising adaptation mechanism that can complement the proposed actions to reduce the growing pressure on the Delta. Historically, circular migration has served as a way to cope with a range of threats for the inhabitants of the area. As the threat of runaway warming continues to loom, this adaptive strategy can serve as the means through which we can glimpse the possibilities for sustaining livelihoods under threat.
By temporarily relocating, migrant populations can diversify and mitigate the risks to their livelihoods, thereby reducing their levels of vulnerability. Relocations of populations during periods of acute environmental stress also provide temporary relief to the ecosystems in origin areas, giving overexploited natural resources a chance to recover and thereby contributing, indirectly, to their sustainability and resilience.
When migrants settle in destination communities they can take advantage of the opportunities available in more economically stable regions, and the resulting remittances they send home also ultimately contribute to a more stable life for those unable to migrate, by funding essential needs and, potentially, through investment in adaptive capacities.
Moreover, the resultant skills and knowledge transfers arising from circular migration help to improve the adaptive capacities of origin communities, including new forms of income generation that are less dependent on climate vulnerable resources.
Once established, and carefully managed, periodic migration will facilitate extensive social networks spanning several regions that will be crucial during times of inevitable crises, in terms of providing support and serving as channels for the flow of much-needed assistance.
However, while circular migration is an effective adaptation strategy, its success hinges on how it is implemented. Issues such as the rights and welfare of migrants, social inclusion in host communities, job creation, and the long-term sustainability of such arrangements need careful consideration and management.
**Hafed Al-Ghwell is a senior fellow and executive director of the North Africa Initiative at the Foreign Policy Institute of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC. X: @HafedAlGhwell

World is a shameful spectator to injustice
Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama/Arab News/June 01, 2024
The war on Gaza that Israel launched last October, killing nearly 40,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and destroying cities and infrastructure, reaffirms the pressing need for global and regional solidarity, and the highest state of alert to intensify efforts toward achieving lasting peace and security in this sensitive region. There are immense human and material losses caused by the war, which continues to have painful negative impacts as the entire world stands powerless before it, and the adverse effects are clearly reflected on global peace and stability.
The war has exposed the ugliness and brutality of the Israeli occupation, disproving Israel’s claims to be an oasis of democracy in a disparate environment. This falsehood was highlighted by protests in many cities and universities worldwide, expressing outrage over the mass killing of unarmed civilians in Gaza.
It is shameful that the international community remains a mere spectator to this injustice, brutal destruction, and barbaric killing that defies international laws. While we condemn the global silence, we must commend the positive steps taken by Spain, Norway, and Ireland to recognize the state of Palestine. The decision by these three European countries is a significant stride toward achieving global peace and security, as the Palestinian cause is one of the most significant causes worldwide. Its exacerbation over decades has been a major cause of many crises in the world and the region due to the occupation and displacement of the Palestinian people.
We should also appreciate the efforts by the Arab-Islamic committee established during the Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh last November, chaired by the Saudi minister of foreign affairs. Its efforts aim to achieve a ceasefire, the release of hostages, the delivery of aid and UN recognition of the state of Palestine based on 1967 borders.
The Israeli government opposes any peace plans that acknowledge Palestinian rights. This means no progress will be achieved unless Israeli political forces become convinced of the need to abandon the notion of hegemony and the imposition of force. The events in Gaza, notwithstanding the staggering number of casualties, have proved that military force will not provide the desired solution sough by the Israeli right wing.
Today, more than ever, it is imperative to join hands at various levels to find a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian cause based on the two-state solution. The use of violence and excessive force has proved that there can be no rest or stability without sustainable peace. It is crucial that the Palestinians take sincere and serious steps to consolidate their ranks and strengthen their united movement toward this goal.
No progress will be achieved unless Israeli political forces become convinced of the need to abandon the notion of hegemony and the imposition of force
Resolving the Palestinian issue and achieving peace in the Middle East require strong political will and sustained efforts by all parties. This represents a significant challenge, but it is not impossible if sincere intentions and a commitment to justice and equality are present. Peace is the only way to achieve stability and prosperity in this sensitive region of the world.
In this regard, we can draw on the experiences of countries with a history of sponsoring peace, such as Saudi Arabia, which enjoys unparalleled acceptance in the Islamic world and has sponsored many peace talks to resolve crises in the Middle East.
The Kingdom actively sought solutions to the Arab-Israeli conflict, presenting two key initiatives in 1981 and in 2002. It also participated in the Madrid Conference in 1991 and endorsed King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz’s peace initiative approved by the Arab summit conference in Beirut in 2002. It is fair and just to acknowledge that from the era of King Abdulaziz to the reign of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has stood by the Palestinian people since the onset of their plight. A notable example of this support is King Saud, who offered Ahmed Shaqiri, the representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Saudi seat at the UN, allowing him to defend his country’s cause not only as a Palestinian representative but also from his position as a representative of Saudi Arabia.
My own country, Djibouti, it is renowned for its pioneering role in peace and reconciliation efforts in the Horn of Africa, and for hosting refugees fleeing conflicts in neighboring countries. Since gaining its independence in 1977, Djibouti has defended it, and continues to do so, in various international and regional forums. Everyone must understand that Israel will not enjoy peace unless it recognizes the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The continuation of the Arab Peace Initiative is contingent upon Israel’s beginning to fulfill its commitments within the framework of international references to achieve peace in the region. The starting point must be an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and the exchange of prisoners and hostages, as a prelude to finding a just and comprehensive solution that ends the suffering of the oppressed Palestinian people by declaring their independent state recognized by the UN with East Jerusalem as its capital.
I call on all countries that have not yet recognized the state of Palestine to do so. This will encourage peace, contribute to achieving stability and development, and put an end to the decades-long suffering of the Palestinian people.
• Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama is the ambassador of Djibouti to Saudi Arabia. X: @dya_bamakhrama